Dodgers: Dave Roberts Believes Mookie Betts Will Contend for MVP
The Dodgers were quick to ensure that Mookie Betts was in LA for a long, long time. The front office extended the outfielder to a massive, 12-year, $365M extension back in 2020 before he ever played a regular season game for the club.
Both between the lines and outside the lines, Betts has been the type of superstar player that organizations dream of. He was a major reason why the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020 and finished second in the NL MVP voting that year. His new teammate, Freddie Freeman ended up beating Bets out for the award.
Betts did not have a not the best of seasons last year, but that hasn't stopped manager Dave Roberts from expecting a bounce back year from his right fielder. Roberts talked to reporters just before boarding the team bus on Wednesday afternoon, and Doc is all in on Betts returning to MVP form this coming season.
“I can’t imagine him not being in the MVP talk this season.”
Of course, it's not the first prediction Roberts has made this spring.
But back to Betts. He struggled through multiple injuries last year including hip and back issues.
He played in only 122 games and recorded a .854 OPS. It's the lowest OPS he's posted since the 2017 season. That being said, he appears to be fully healthy this spring and prepared to start hitting like a MVP again.
Being surrounded by more All-Star hitters than ever should also help Betts. The Dodgers have always had plus lineups during Betts' time with the club, but now he has Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman hitting behind him. Plus, Betts could have more RBI opportunities than ever as a leadoff man with the universal DH in play.
Betts is primed for a rebound season.
